Catholic schools in Vancouver, B.C., to oblige transgender students

Catholic schools in Vancouver, B.C. , under a new policy adopted Wednesday, will allow transgender students to dress as they wish, use their preferred names, and have access to private washroom and private places in which to change their clothes.

The first policy of its kind for a Catholic school system in Canada was prompted by a B.C. Human Rights Tribunal complaint by an 11-year girl named Tracey Wilson — born a boy, Trey Wilson — who now attends a public school in a Vancouver suburb.

“What I went through was very painful and hurtful and a lot of time I was alone: I just don’t want anyone else to feel this way,” Wilson told the Globe & Mail.

Photo: JOSHUA BESSEX / SEATTLEPI.COM

Image 1of/18

Caption

Close

Image 1 of 18

Marchers listen to speakers in Cal Anderson Park during the Trans* Pride Seattle 2014 march and celebration on Friday, June 27, 2014. (Joshua Bessex, seattlepi.com)

Marchers listen to speakers in Cal Anderson Park during the Trans* Pride Seattle 2014 march and celebration on Friday, June 27, 2014. (Joshua Bessex, seattlepi.com)

Photo: JOSHUA BESSEX / SEATTLEPI.COM

Image 2 of 18

Marchers make their way down Broadway street as part of the Trans* Pride Seattle 2014 march and celebration on Friday, June 27, 2014. (Joshua Bessex, seattlepi.com)

Marchers make their way down Broadway street as part of the Trans* Pride Seattle 2014 march and celebration on Friday, June 27, 2014. (Joshua Bessex, seattlepi.com)

Elena Rose speaks during the Trans* Pride Seattle 2014 march and celebration on Friday, June 27, 2014. (Joshua Bessex, seattlepi.com)

Elena Rose speaks during the Trans* Pride Seattle 2014 march and celebration on Friday, June 27, 2014. (Joshua Bessex, seattlepi.com)

Photo: JOSHUA BESSEX / SEATTLEPI.COM

Image 14 of 18

The Nasty Habits play during the Trans* Pride Seattle 2014 march and celebration on Friday, June 27, 2014. (Joshua Bessex, seattlepi.com)

The Nasty Habits play during the Trans* Pride Seattle 2014 march and celebration on Friday, June 27, 2014. (Joshua Bessex, seattlepi.com)

Photo: JOSHUA BESSEX / SEATTLEPI.COM

Image 15 of 18

Avery Gruenmann takes a moment to watch the Trans* Pride Seattle 2014 march and celebration on Friday, June 27, 2014. (Joshua Bessex, seattlepi.com)

Avery Gruenmann takes a moment to watch the Trans* Pride Seattle 2014 march and celebration on Friday, June 27, 2014. (Joshua Bessex, seattlepi.com)

Photo: JOSHUA BESSEX / SEATTLEPI.COM

Image 16 of 18

CeCe McDonald speaks to a large crowd during the Trans* Pride Seattle 2014 march and celebration on Friday, June 27, 2014. (Joshua Bessex, seattlepi.com)

CeCe McDonald speaks to a large crowd during the Trans* Pride Seattle 2014 march and celebration on Friday, June 27, 2014. (Joshua Bessex, seattlepi.com)

Photo: JOSHUA BESSEX / SEATTLEPI.COM

Image 17 of 18

Elayne Wylie, producer of Trans* Pride Seattle 2014, holds up a proclamation from Mayor Ed Murray declaring June 27 as Trans* Pride Day during the Trans* Pride Seattle 2014 march and celebration on Friday, June 27, 2014. (Joshua Bessex, seattlepi.com) less

Elayne Wylie, producer of Trans* Pride Seattle 2014, holds up a proclamation from Mayor Ed Murray declaring June 27 as Trans* Pride Day during the Trans* Pride Seattle 2014 march and celebration on Friday, ... more

Photo: JOSHUA BESSEX / SEATTLEPI.COM

Image 18 of 18

Catholic schools in Vancouver, B.C., to oblige transgender students

1 / 18

Back to Gallery

The Archdiocese of Vancouver, a bastion of doctrinal conservatism, has walked a fine line on the issue. The Vancouver School Board voted last month to accommodate transgender students, in a raucous meeting that saw two board members vote against the policy.

Catholic schools seek to be “safe, welcoming, inclusive and affirming of the uniqueness of every student,” said the new policy drawn up for the Catholic Independent Schools of the Archdiocese of Vancouver. Catholic schools enroll about 14,000 students.

The school system — and archdiocese — are holding to Catholic teaching that “gender is given by God and the body reveals the divine plan. As such, humans are not free to choose or change their sexual identity.”

With that said, however, Catholic schools will adjust for what they call “gender non-conforming behavior.”

“Our schools will be as inclusive as we can be while still maintaining our Catholic identity,” Doug Lauson, superintendent of the Catholic school system, told CTV News.

Among provisions of the Catholic schools’ new policy:

— “Schools shall provide access to a private washroom for use by any student who desires privacy.”

–“Schools will make available a private changing area for use by any student who is uncomfortable using the common changing facility, whether such discomfort is related to gender dysphoria, gender expression or another reason.”

–“Upon receipt of a written request by a student’s parents/guardians, a school shall provide an alternative uniform for that student, in designated school colors.”

–“Upon receipt of a written request from a student’s parents/guardian for a change in prefered or common name, a student shall have the right to be addressed by their preferred common name.”

–“All students should be able to participate in physical education classes and team sports in a safe, inclusive, affirming and respectful environment.”

–“Physical education activities and intramurals shall not be segregated by sex, unless there are safety concerns.”

–“With respect to participation in competitive athletic activities, the school will require a written request by a student’s parents/guardian.”

The policy is the first to be adopted by any Catholic school system in Canada.